Contributions of South Korean Registered Nurses In Anesthesia Practice

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-14-2018

School

Health Professions

Abstract

Introduction: Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) were recognized by law as legitimate anesthesia providers in Korea 44 years ago. Since 2005, CRNAs have been educated at the graduate level and certified by national examination. In recent years, the number of graduate educational programs has decreased and the number of practicing CRNAs has declined correspondingly. To meet the shortfall, hospitals train registered nurses to perform anesthesia. This study examined registered nurses in anesthesia (RNAs) and CRNAs in anesthesia care in South Korea.

Materials and Methods: A confidential survey was administered to a sample of 308 nurses in anesthesia practice. The chi-square independent test and independent two-sample t-test for continuous variables were used for comparison.

Results: While all were involved in anesthesia, RNAs were more likely to work under supervision. Almost 34% of the participants planned to leave anesthesia practice within the next 5 years, and nearly 20% of participants indicated that they planned to retire within 5 years.

Discussion: RNAs are an integral part of anesthesia services in Korea, although they are not certified and lack clear scope of practice. The authors recommend a pathway for RNAs to obtain advanced degrees and certification as anesthesia providers.

Publication Title

Anesthesia Journal

Volume

6

Issue

9

First Page

41

Last Page

51

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS